Mail-bag clamp.



No. 817,308. PATENTED APR. 10, 1906.

J. A. ENGLE, MAIL BAG CLAMP.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 26. 1905.

pairs l JOSEPH ANDERSON ENGLE, OF CLAREMONT, ILLINOIS.

MAID-BAG: CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 10, 1906.

Application filed September 26, 1905. Serial No. 280,138.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J osErir ANDERSON EN- GLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Claremont, in thecounty of Richland and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to mail-cranes, and more particularly the clamp whereby the mail-bag is held in position to be removed by the car-fork.

The object of the invention is to provide a clamp of this kind which will securely hold the bag and from which it can be readily removed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the invention, and Fig. 2 is an elevation thereof.

' Referring specifically to the drawings, .5 denotes the main body of the clamp, which is formed with an. opening 6, through which the bolt or pin extends, whereby the clamp is attached to the crane or support. Two oppositely-disposed spring-fingers 7 and 8, respectively, extend outwardly from the main body 5. These spring-fingers are formed integral with the main body 5, and. at their outer ends they come together or meet, as at 9. The outer ends of the fingers are also slightly flared, as at 10, to facilitate the insertion of the ring of the mail-bag therebetween.

The finger 7 is formed with an opening through w 1ich is threaded a thumb-screw 11, adapted to bear on the finger 8. The object of this screw is to afford convenient means for springing the fingers apart to permit the insertion of the ring of the mail-bag therebetween.

By reason of this construction the fingers can be made quite stiff, so that the mail-bag will be securely held. The resiliency of the fingers permits the mail-bag to be readily removed by the car-fork in the usual manner. If the fingers are too sti'fi, they can be pried apart a bit, so that the ring will slip out more readily.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

A mail-bag clamp comprising a main body, oppositely-disposed spring-fingers extending outwardly therefrom and meeting at their front ends, and a thumb screw threaded through one of the fingers and bearing on the other finger for springing said fingers apart.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH ANDERSON ENGLE.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM L. HAYNEs, H. M. GARDNER. 

